Leviticus 18:20 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife, which would make you both impure.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is commanding His people not to commit adultery with someone else's spouse, as this defiles everyone involved.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is from the book of Leviticus, part of the laws given by God to the Israelites through Moses as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It addressed the sexual immorality prevalent in surrounding Canaanite cultures, which often tied such practices to their pagan religions, emphasizing instead God's call for holiness and the protection of marriage. These instructions helped set Israel apart as a distinct, holy people in a morally corrupt world.

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Ezekiel 22:11

One person is sleeping with his neighbor's wife, another is taking advantage of his daughter-in-law, and someone else is assaulting his own sister.

Leviticus 18:17

You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You must not marry or have sexual relations with her granddaughter (either her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter). They are close relatives, and this is evil.

Leviticus 18:13

You must not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's close relative.

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